Discount fares for Buddhist circuit train

by Kumod Verma, TNN, Jun 21, 2010

PATNA, India -- Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has decided to reduce fares of the package tour by Buddhist Circuit special train as a discount offer to passengers, including foreign tourists.

This offer will be valid from February 13 to February 20 only. Railways has started booking for the tour package.

According to IRCTC tour manager Anand Jha, the Buddhist Circuit special train originates from Safdarjung station in New Delhi and covers Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Sarnath, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Sravasti and Agra before returning to Safdarjung.

Jha said the revised fares under the discount scheme are Rs 19,999 per person in AC-2 and Rs 14,999 per person in AC-3 against the normal fares of Rs 41,650 per person in AC-2 and Rs 34,650 in AC-3 per passenger. "We hope the package tour would attract more tourists now," he said.

According to him, the Buddhist Circuit special train has the proud distinction of having won the National Tourism Award for giving quality service to tourists. Its itinerary was declared the most innovative by the ministry of tourism in 2008, he said.

According to sources, the railways introduced this special train a few years ago on the demand of foreign tourists. The IRCTC also provides online ticket booking facility for this train, the sources said.